The Utah Home
Buyer's Guide
A Step-by-Step Guide from Offer to Keys
Everything you need to know to buy a home in the Salt Lake Valley — written by a local agent who has guided hundreds of buyers through the process, and who knows the Utah market inside and out.
Get the guide $19
Buying a home is complicated.
It doesn't have to feel that way.
Most buyers go into the process without a clear picture of what's coming. Here's what that costs them.
They start looking before talking to a lender
And then fall in love with a home they can't qualify for, or lose it to a more prepared buyer who already has their pre-approval in hand.
They don't understand their contingencies
The Utah REPC has three protected exit points. Buyers who don't understand them either miss deadlines or give up protections they didn't know they had.
They get surprised at closing
Closing costs, wire transfer instructions, the difference between settlement and closing — these shouldn't be surprises on the most important day of the transaction.
Seven chapters. Seven worksheets.
The complete picture.
Each chapter covers one stage of the buying process and ends with a printable worksheet you can use in real time.
Talk to a Lender
Pre-approval vs. pre-qualification, choosing a local lender, what to avoid before closing, and Utah first-time buyer programs.
Decide What You Want
Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, Utah neighborhood considerations, and how to set up a search that won't waste your time.
Choose a Real Estate Agent
What a buyer's agent actually does, how commission works in Utah, and exactly what to ask before you commit.
Find the House
How the MLS works, what to look for at showings, red flags to watch for, and how to manage a long search without losing your mind.
Make an Offer
The REPC explained, earnest money, offer strategy in a competitive Utah market, and what happens after you submit.
Under Contract
All three contingencies, home inspections, HOA document review, appraisals, and how to negotiate after due diligence.
Settlement, Closing & Moving In
The closing disclosure, final walkthrough, wire fraud protection, settlement day, and your first weeks as a Utah homeowner.
Utah-Specific Details Throughout
Radon, Utah Housing Corporation programs, the REPC, local lender advice, wire fraud warnings, Enbridge & Rocky Mountain Power, and more.
Written by someone who does this every day.
I have been helping buyers find homes in Salt Lake City and the surrounding communities for 15 years. I specialize in historic homes throughout the Salt Lake Valley, and I have guided buyers through every kind of market — fast and slow, competitive and forgiving.
I wrote this guide because the information buyers need has always been the same, and most of what's available online is either too generic or too hard to read. What you'll find here is the same advice I give my own clients sitting across the kitchen table — plain, honest, and specific to Utah.
If you have questions that go beyond these pages, I'm always happy to talk.
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Ready to buy your home in Utah?
Get the complete step-by-step guide, seven printable worksheets, and 15 years of local expertise — all in one place.
Get the Utah Home Buyer's Guide →Questions? Email melissa@brownellrealestate.com